Container with hidden panel

ABSTRACT

An assembled container incorporates a customizable surface. The assembled container can be of any type, shape, size, and/or material. The surface can be any surface that may be subjected to further processing following the assembly of the container, i.e., a post-container-assembly process. The surface may be partially or completely detachable from the container, or otherwise isolated from the container, such that the container is not damaged by any post-container-assembly process performed on the surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/981,521, filed Apr. 18, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to containers, and more particularly to a container with a hidden panel.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

Containers of various sizes, shapes, materials, and purposes are generally known in the art. In particular, containers with printable surfaces are also known. For example, lunch bags or boxes with photographs of one's favorite musician, athlete or even family member are, and have been, common place for decades. Similarly, backpacks, briefcases, and over-the-shoulder bags frequently exhibit photographs, patterns and/or other images reflecting the carrier's personal tastes and interests.

However, the act of printing on a printable surface of a container can subject the container to harsh, potentially damaging, effects. For example, dye-sublimation printing, i.e., the transfer of dye onto materials through the application of heat, can melt, disfigure or otherwise damage a container if proper precautions are not taken to protect the container. Other printing and processing techniques that apply heat, harsh chemicals, etc., to a particular surface of a container may also result in container damage if proper precautions are not taken. Often times, to avoid these harsh effects, the surface must be printed or processed first prior to assembly of the container to avoid any potentially damaging effects associated with the printing or processing technique used.

However, it is sometimes not commercially feasible to first print an image on the printable surface, and then assemble the container, particularly when different entities perform the printing and assembly processes. This is especially, although not exclusively, true in the field of customizable or personalizable items, in which a customer selects an image or photograph that he or she desires to be printed on an object of his or her choosing, e.g., a container, lunch bag, backpack, etc. It is usually more commercially practicable to first manufacture a substantial quantity of “blank” articles to be subsequently printed with the custom graphic or photograph of each customer's choosing. Thus, there is an identified need for a container with suitable structural attributes that permit the container to be assembled first and printed, or processed, second without the printing technique, or other processing technique, damaging the container.

A somewhat related issue is that the printable surface of the container, after assembly, might be difficult to properly align in the printing or image transfer apparatus, such that the subsequent print or image transfer is not of desirable quality. This is especially true in the case of heavy, bulky, or otherwise unwieldy containers. Needless to say, the quality of the printing or image transfer to the container surface is usually of paramount importance to the customer. Thus, there is an additional need for a container that has a printable surface that is capable of being properly aligned in the printing or image transfer apparatus such that, after printing, the container is undamaged and the printable surface is of suitable print quality.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

An assembled container that incorporates a surface is disclosed herein. The assembled container can be of any type, shape, size, and/or material. The surface can be any surface that may be subjected to further processing following the assembly of the container, i.e., a post-container-assembly process. The surface may be partially or completely detachable from the container, or otherwise isolated from the container, such that the container is not damaged by any post-container-assembly process performed on the surface.

In some examples, the surface may be integrated into a panel or other suitable structure that can partially or completely detach from the container to enable effective post-container-assembly processing. Following the post-container-assembly process, the surface, along with the panel or other structure into which the surface is integrated, may be reattached to the container via a closure mechanism. In certain examples, the surface, and any panel or other structure into which the surface is integrated, is pivotably connected to the container.

In other examples, the surface, which may be a printable surface, is incorporated into a lunch bag. The surface and a panel into which the surface is integrated, if any, might be segregated from the rest of the lunch bag by partially or completely detaching from a second panel such that the lunch bag, and the second panel in particular, is protected from damage during any post-lunch bag-assembly process. The second panel may be a hidden panel that is partially or completely obscured from view when the lunch bag is subjected to ordinary use. Any suitable surface, lunch bag, and/or panel geometry and structure that permits the surface to be sufficiently isolated from the lunch bag during post-lunch bag-assembly processing such that the lunch bag is not damaged by the post-lunch bag-assembly process is within the scope of the present disclosure. In some examples, the lunch bag or container may be insulated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, reference may be had to various examples shown in the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an example lunch bag having a printable surface.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the example lunch bag of FIG. 1, showing a first closure mechanism of the example lunch bag.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the example lunch bag of FIG. 1, showing the base portion of the example lunch bag.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the example lunch bag of FIG. 1, showing the compartment of the example lunch bag.

FIG. 5 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the example lunch bag of FIG. 1, showing the first closure mechanism of the example lunch bag partially hiding a second closure mechanism of the example lunch bag.

FIG. 6 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the example lunch bag of FIG. 1, showing the first closure mechanism of the example lunch bag exposing the second closure mechanism of the example lunch bag.

FIG. 7 depicts an enlarged perspective view of the example lunch bag of FIG. 1, showing a first panel of the example lunch bag unattached from a second panel of the example lunch bag.

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of the example lunch bag of FIG. 1, showing an intra-panel compartment disposed between the first panel and the second panel of the example lunch bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of example apparatus is not intended to limit the scope of the description to the precise form or forms detailed herein. Instead, the following description is intended to be illustrative so that others may follow its teachings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example container, shown as a lunch bag 100. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the present disclosure also apply to lunch boxes, food-related containers, and non-food-related containers of various types, shapes, sizes, and materials, without limitation. The shape of the lunch bag 100 is primarily defined by a top portion 116, a base portion 118, and a sidewall portion 104. The shapes of other containers, e.g., lunch boxes, food containers, food packages, backpacks, duffle bags, luggage, suitcases, garment bags, briefcases, over-the-shoulder bags, drums, buckets, boxes, canisters, barrels, jars, bottles, etc., may be primarily defined by additional, fewer or different portions than a top portion, a base portion, and a sidewall portion without departing from the present disclosure. In this example, the lunch bag 100 is made of a soft fabric material, but those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that lunch bags and containers of varying material types, hard and/or soft, are within the scope of the present disclosure.

In this example the lunch bag 100, and more particularly the top portion 116 is comprised of a first panel 120 having a printable surface 102. In other example containers, the panel and surface may not be part of a top portion of the container but rather may be part of a different portion of the container, e.g., a base portion, a sidewall portion, etc. The surface shown in the lunch bag 100 is a printable surface 102, upon which images, graphics, photographs, and/or patterns may be printed or transferred. Any surface suitable for any type of post-container-assembly process is within the scope of the present disclosure. Printing, dyeing, chemical processing, heat treating, rhinestone or jewel application, etc., are examples of post-container-assembly processes. The execution of these and other types of post-container-assembly processes might subject the lunch bag 100, in view of its close proximity to the printable surface 102, to potential damage. The first panel 120 of the lunch bag 100 is pivotably connected to the sidewall portion 104 of the lunch bag 100 at a first pivotable connection 122. The first pivotable connection 122 may be any suitable connection, e.g., a fabric fold, a line of weakness, perforated fabric, scored fabric, a hinge, a folded flap, a soft flap, a fabric flap, a flexible connector, a resilient connector, etc. The example lunch bag 100 is closed via a first closure mechanism, shown in FIG. 1 as a first zipper 106. The first zipper 106 connects the first panel 120 to the sidewall portion 104 of the lunch bag 100. The first zipper 106 has a first zipper pull tab 108. Any suitable closure mechanism other than a zipper may be used to close the container, e.g., snaps, buttons, pressure-sensitive mechanical closures, pressure-sensitive adhesives, etc. In other examples, the surface and/or the panel may be partially or completely detachable from the container.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a carrying mechanism for the example lunch bag 100. The carrying mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is a handle 110 comprised of a handle strap 114 and a lock 112. The lock permits the handle 110 to separate into two distinct portions, such that an object may be attached to the handle 110, e.g., a key ring, a change purse, etc. The lock may be a fabric hook-and-loop type fastener, a padlock, a key lock, a combination lock, a knot, a snap, a zipper, a button, an adhesive, or any other suitable lock. Other types and quantities of carrying mechanisms, with or without various types of locks, are within the scope of the present disclosure, including handles, grips, knobs, straps, etc. By way of further example, heavy containers may have multiple carrying mechanisms of sufficient strength to permit carrying the container. On the other hand, no carrying mechanism may be necessary for certain container types.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example lunch bag 100 of FIG. 1, showing, specifically, the first zipper 106 of the example lunch bag 100. The first zipper 106 is additionally comprised of first zipper teeth 202 and first zipper tape 204. In this example, the first zipper tape 204 is flexible, such that it permits movement of the respective zipper halves of first zipper 106, as further discussed below. It will be understood that various zipper types and other closure mechanisms may be used in other example containers and/or lunch bags.

FIG. 3 illustrates the base portion 118 of the example lunch bag 100 of FIG. 1. In this example, the base portion 118 has a pocket 302. The pocket 302 may store items that the user desires to keep separate from the other contents held within the lunch bag 100. The pocket 302 may, but need not, have a pocket closure mechanism. The pocket closure mechanism shown in FIG. 3 is a pocket zipper 304. Other pocket closure mechanisms include, by way of example only, snaps, buttons, pressure-sensitive mechanical closures, pressure-sensitive adhesives, etc. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, in other examples, the pocket 302 may be located anywhere on the base portion 118, or on any other suitable portion of the lunch bag 100. In still other examples, a container may incorporate a plurality of pockets in various locations on the container. Alternatively, a container might not have any pockets.

FIG. 4 illustrates the example lunch bag 100 of FIG. 1 in an opened configuration. When the first zipper 106 is unzipped, the top portion 116, along with the first panel 120 and the printable surface 102, can be partially detached from the lunch bag 100 to provide access to a compartment 402. In some examples, the first panel 120 may completely detach from the lunch bag 100.

The compartment 402 is the primary storage region for the lunch bag 100. The compartment 402 is comprised of a compartment base 404, a compartment top 408, and a compartment sidewall 406. In this example, insulation 410 lines the compartment 402 to maintain a steady temperature for the contents stored in the compartment 402. Other containers, depending on their purposes, may not require insulation. One of skill in the art will appreciate that additional compartment features, such as a heating element, an odor eliminating element or product integrity element, e.g., shock absorbing material such as foam, may be incorporated into compartment 402 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As further shown in FIG. 4 as well as in FIG. 5, the example lunch bag 100 also comprises a second panel 416 having a second closure mechanism, shown as a second zipper 414. The second zipper 414 is partially hidden by the first zipper teeth 202 and the first zipper tape 204. In this way, the second panel 416 appears to be one and the same with the first panel 120. In other words, the second panel 416 is hidden, or at least partially hidden. It will be understood that in other examples, a second panel of a container could be completely hidden, partially hidden or not hidden. For certain containers, a hidden or partially hidden panel might be desirable for security reasons.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first zipper tape 204 is shown pulled back from the second zipper 414 such that the second zipper 414 and its second zipper teeth 502 are no longer hidden from view. In this configuration, the user can more easily operate the second closure mechanism. FIG. 6, thus, more clearly shows that the second panel 416 is a distinct panel from the first panel 120.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the second panel 416 partially unattached from the first panel 120. In the example lunch bag 100, the second panel 416 is pivotably connected to the first panel 120 and the rest of the lunch bag 100 via a second pivotable connection 806. As with the first pivotable connection 122, the second pivotable connection 806 may be any suitable connection, e.g., a fabric fold, a line of weakness, perforated fabric, scored fabric, a hinge, a folded flap, a soft flap, a fabric flap, a flexible connector, a resilient connector, etc. In other examples, a second panel may be partially or completely detachable from the container. The example lunch bag 100 further discloses an intra-panel compartment 702 disposed between a first inner surface 802 of the first panel 120 and a second inner surface 804 of the second panel 416. The intra-panel compartment 702 can be of any suitable size or shape. The intra-panel compartment 702 can be used to store items that the user desires to keep separate from those items stored in the compartment 402 of the lunch bag 100. The intra-panel compartment 702 might be insulated, although it need not be.

As noted above, certain high value items could be stored in the intra-panel compartment 702, lunch money, for example. A would-be thief would have no knowledge of the presence of any items stored in the intra-panel compartment 702, particularly if the first zipper tape 204 is positioned such that it hides, or at least partially hides, the second zipper 414 from plain view.

FIG. 8 also illustrates how the first panel 120, which further includes the printable surface 102, may be isolated from the remainder of the example lunch bag 100. If, for example, it is desired that a photograph, or other graphic, be transferred onto the printable surface 102 of the lunch bag 100, then the first panel 120 and the printable surface 102 can be partially detached from the lunch bag 100 along the first pivotable connection 122. In this way, any harsh effects, for example, heat damage, chemical damage, etc., associated with the printing or image transfer process will not damage the lunch bag 100. Moreover, it will often-times be easier to properly align a partially or completely detached printable surface in a printing press or image transfer apparatus, resulting in a higher print quality.

On the other hand, if the first panel 120 and the printable surface 102 could not be isolated from the second panel 416, then the heat generated by the printing process could melt the insulation 410 disposed on the compartment top 408 of the compartment 402. Print quality may also suffer depending on whether the lunch bag geometry might make printing press alignment difficult.

Thus, by partially detaching, or otherwise isolating, the first panel 120 and the printable surface 102 from the second panel 416 and the remainder of the lunch bag 100, the lunch bag 100 can be fully manufactured and assembled prior to printing (or other post-assembly process). This is often the only commercially feasible way to manufacture customizable or personalizable items such as the example lunch bag 100. Moreover, isolating the first panel 120 and the printable surface 102 from the second panel 416 also helps to ensure that the lunch bag's 100 integrity is preserved and desirable print quality on the printable surface 102 is obtained. In other examples, a container having a completely detachable first panel would provide the same benefits.

Although certain example apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 

We claim:
 1. A container comprising: a base portion, and a sidewall extending from the periphery of the base portion to define an open storage compartment; a top portion pivotally fastened to the sidewall and movable between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the open storage compartment; and a customizable panel constructed from a printable material and being hingedly coupled about a hinge to the top portion, the customizable panel being movable relative the top portion between a closed position wherein the customizable panel is proximate the top portion, and an opened position wherein the customizable panel extends from the top portion and is isolated from the base portion and the top portion for any post-container-assembly process performed on an outer surface of the customizable container.
 2. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the customizable panel is coupled to the periphery of the top portion.
 3. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the customizable panel extends from the top portion at least perpendicularly when the customizable panel is in the opened position.
 4. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the customizable panel is a printable fabric.
 5. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the container is a lunchbox.
 6. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the base portion and the top portion are insulated.
 7. A container as recited in claim 1, further comprising a closure mechanism to releasably maintain the customizable panel in the closed portion relative to the top portion.
 8. A container as recited in claim 7, wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper extending at least partially about the periphery of the top portion.
 9. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the base portion, the top portion, and the customizable panel are constructed of a soft-sided material.
 10. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the customizable panel is integrally formed with the top portion.
 11. A container as recited in claim 1, wherein the customizable panel is removable from the hinge.
 12. A method of customizing an assembled container comprising: receiving a container including a base portion, a sidewall extending from the periphery of the base portion to define an open storage compartment, a top portion pivotally fastened to the sidewall and movable between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the open storage compartment, and a customizable panel constructed from a printable material and being hingedly coupled about a hinge to the top portion; releasable detaching at least a portion of the customizable panel from the top portion; moving the customizable panel to an opened position about the hinge such that the customizable panel extends from the top portion; and modifying the customizable panel.
 13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein modifying the customizable panel comprises transferring a graphic onto the customizable panel.
 14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the graphic is at least one of an image, a photograph, or a pattern. 